Plate clamp operating device for printing presses



Jan. 11, 1938. E.. w. DEAN ET A1.

u PLATE CLAMP OPERATING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES l l r A.la

Filed June 8, 19.36

Jan. l1, 1938. E. w. DEAN ET AL 2,104,854

PLATE CLAMP OPERATING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 8, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 lNvENToR l f C ZZQQLM l ATr NEY ifa V Patented Jan. 11, 1938 IPATENT` OFFICE rLA'rE CLAMP OPERATING nEvIoE Eon A 'l PRINTING rREssEs Edmund W. Dean and James L. Blaeidey, Battle Creek, Mich., assignors. to 4Duplex Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich., a corporation of Michigan YApplication June 8, 1936, ISeralNO. 84,234

11 claims. (c1. 10i-sis) This invention relates to rotaryv cylinder printing presses and is a novel mechanism for simultaneously operating the clamps by which the plates are secured on the printing cylinder 0f such a press. 5 f

The invention is particularly designed Afor locking plates which practically surround' thecylinder; and are placed in position by slipping them endwise on the cylinder, and removed by withdrawing them endwise oi the cylinder. The particular clamps employed are of the type shown in Bechman Patent 1,052,206' of February 14, 1913, but the invention is not limited to such clamp; but the invention provides means whereby after the -plates areon the cylinder all the clamps can vbe simultantously engagedwith equal pressure; andalso Yall the clampslcan be simultaneously withdrawn to permit-the removal Vof the plate; or'theplacing of a plate on the cylinder. Ordinarily there are Vfrom threeto vefclamps for 4the plate, and-heretofore each clamp had to be loperated separately. This of course required vthree to iiveseparate operations, one for veach clamp operating-screw; and at least two different `positionings Vof the cylinder in order that 'the operator couldconveniently get at the clamp operating screws. VIn our invention all the clamp screws are operated simultaneously, and only one positioning offthe cylinder is necessary to permit applying or retracting of the clamps. i We will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a .practical embodiment thereof, but we do not considerthe invention limited to the Vspecific confstruction shown, and referto the claims for the essentials'of the invention and novel features of construction andnovel combinations of parts for lwhich protection is desired. t.

Insaid .drawings we have only shown the lock up end of the plate cylinder, and a portion of one of the plates on such cylinder; as the clamping devices forother plates form no part of the presv ,ent invention, and may be the same as shown in 1 l Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the une 4 4. Eig.' i,

` showing the plate Vinlocked position.

Fig..5 is a topA plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isa detail'section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a View illustrating the manner of operating the annular gear by worm-wrench.

The plate cylinder A may be of any desired construction. As shown it is adapted to carry hollow cylindric or tubular plates P, which can be slipped endwse onto, or off of, the cylinder. The end plate on the cylinder is adapted to be engaged by a plurality of plate clamps C, each of which is mounted on a screw S, the inner end s of which is journaled in a socket in the inner end of a recess a in the cylinder; and the outer endof the screw is journaled in a collar or ring R formed onorrigidly attached to the cylinder. By -turning screw S'the clamp C can be retracted, and turned over as indicated in Fig. 2 so that the plate P can be slipped'endwise on or off the cylinder. When the plate is in position the 'clamps C are moved up against the edge of the plateand secure the same in place.

Theparts thus far described are shown as subf- 'stantially similar inconstruction and operation to" the plate clamping devicesA shown in said Bechman patent, but in said patent `each of the plate clamps was independently operable, and as there are three to live clamps employed on the end of each 'cylinder it required three to five separateoperations and several positionings of the cylinder in order to enable the clamps to be u applied or retracted. v In ourpresent invention each screw S is provided on its outer end with a pinion S which meshes with circumferential teeth la on an anv nulargear l which is rotatably mounted on a 35 reduced end portion A' of the cylinder adjacent Vthe ring R and is held closely adjacent the ring by means of a collar Ib securely pinned to the part A ofthe cylinder and engaging an annular recess onthe inside Aof the annular gear (see Fig. 6).v The collar lb can be securedvby pins or screws if, to which access can be had through openings Ylg in the annular gear l.

The annulargear I is provided on its'outer 'edge' with beveled gear-teeth Ic,v which are adapted to mesh with a'. pinion 2 on a stub shaft 2a journaled in a ring 3, which may be keyed to the part A', as indicated at 3b. Ring 3 is also rigidly connected with the ring R by means of through bolts'3a, so that the rings R and 3 are practically integral and have no rotative movement on the reduced portion A' of the cylinder. Y The stub shaft 2 a is preferably provided with a socket' 2b,V angularin cross-section, and which is s ,Y adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench,4 not 55 shown, whereby the pinion 2 can be manually turned and thereby cause the annular gear I to turn on the part A', and, through its gear teeth Ia, simultaneously operate the pinions S and rotate the several screw shafts S, thereby simultaneously moving the clamp C in or out.

The parts ofy the screws S adjacent thevpinions lS' are not threaded,` and the screwsarepermitted a slight longitudinal movement relative to the ring R. Each screw however is provided with7^ After the clamps have engaged with the plate by turning the pinion 2 as above described, it is desirable to apply more pressurer to the-clamps in order toy hold the plate firmly. For. this purpose the annular gear I? is formed with a peripheral' series of'worm gear teeth le; and to.v ring 3 are attached one or more,vpreferably two, pins 4 each having. a head 4a provided with ay socket 4b for engagement with a stud w.' on one endof a wrench W, which has a worm w adjacent the stud w. After the clamps have been set up against the plate by operating the pinion 2 as above described, the operator takes wrenchy W and inserts its stud w' in the bore dbof one of the pins IA and swings the worm wv into engagement with the worm gear teeth Ie (see Fig. 7), and then manually turns the. wormk thereby imparting a more forcible rotation Vto the'annular gear I., and through screwsS increasing the compression of springs S3. Thesprings. S3 are made stiff enough tosecurely hold. the clamps against the plate, andV these springs compensate for any variationsrwhich. may occur-at different points of contact between` the several clampsv andthe plate. The wrenches W indicatedin the drawings are not claimed herein'; and their construction may be varied.

WhenV a plate is tov be applied the clamps-are retracted by turning the annular gear I- in the reverse. direction so as to relievey the tensiony on the springs S3 and retract the clamp from the plate and. gearv of the recess. A spring S4 is placed on each screw S between they clamp nuts S2 and the clamp to cause enough friction between thev nutv threadsof the clamp and the threads of screw S so that revolving ofthe screw will cause the clamp to revolve about one-half turn in the initial movement of locking the plate and also revolve a halfv turn when retracted to unlocking position, as indicated in dotted lines ink Fig. 2. When properly retracted the clamps will turn to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the cylinder being provided at the outer end of the recesses A with` pockets indicated at A2 in the drawings.k Preferably we use means for tipping the plates such as shown and described in said Bechman patent, and it is therefore. unnecessary todescribe the: same.

It will be seen that by our invention any number of plate clamps adapted to engage the end of a plate, can be simultaneously operated to engage the platey afterl it is placed on thel cylinder; or can be simultaneously withdrawn, to. permit the plate to be removed. The construction described is eflicient; butv we do not consider our invention limitedv to the particular construction shown; l f

These springs are provided to equalize the Y We claim:

1. In combination with a plate cylinder having a recess, a rotatable screw extending into said recess, a plate clamp threaded on said screw, a pinion on said screw, a gear member mounted on the plate cylinder and meshing with said pinion whereby the screw may be rotated to advance or retractfthe clamp, means whereby the said member may be manually rotated to project or retract the clamp, said screw being longitudinally movable, spring. means adapted to force the A.screw inwardly, and means whereby after the clamp is engaged with the plate the gear member may beffurt'her'forcibly rotated to cause the spring means to! forcibly hold the clampin engagement with the plate.

2. In combination with a plate cylinder having recesses for accommodation of plate clamps,

rscrews extending linto said recesses, plate clamps threaded on said screws and adapted to be moved thereby into or out ofthe recesses, pinions on the outer endsfof the screws; and a member rotatably rmounted` on the cylinder shaft and having gear teethengaging the pinions for simultaneously rotating the screws. Y

Y 3. In combination withv a plate cylinderhaving longitudinal recesses for accommodation of plate clamps, screws extending into said recesses; plate clamps threaded on said screws adaptedr toN be projected thereby into or out of the recesses, pinions on the outer ends of thescrews; agear member rotatably mounted on the cylinder shaft and having teeth engaging the pinions for simultaneouslyV rotating the screws, said memberv also havinga second set of gear teeth and a pinion meshing with the second-.set of teeth, and adapted -tobe manually operated to turn the member.

4. In,V combinationl with a plate cylinder having recesses for accommodation of plate clamps,

screws extending intoy said recesses', plate clamps threaded on said screws andadapted to bemoved thereby into or out of the recesses, pinions: on the outer ends of the screws; a gearmember rotatably mounted onf the cylinder shaft` andhaving gear teeth engaging the pinions for simultaneously rotatingr the screws, and a removable manuallyr operable worm adapted to be engaged with teeth on said member tov forcibly rotate it. 5- In combination with a plate'r cylinder having longitudinal recesses for accommodation of plate clamps, screws extending into said recesses; plate clamps threaded on said screws adapted to be projectedv thereby into or out of the recesses, pinions on the outer ends of the screws; a gear member rotatably mounted on the cylinder shaft and having annularv gear teeth' engaging the pinions for simultaneously rotatingthe screws, and also having gear teeth on one end, a pinion meshing with the teeth adapted to! be manually operated, and a removable manually operable worm adapted to be engaged with teeth on said member Vto forcibly rotate it.

6. In combination with a plate cylinder having recesses for accommodation of plate clamps, screws extending into said recesses, plate clamps threaded' on said screws and adapted to be moved thereby into or out of the recesses, pinions on theouter ends of the screws; a gear member rotatably mounted on the. cylinder shaft andY having gear teeth engaging the pinions to simultaneously rotate thescrews, spring means on the screws for projecting the latter inwardly, and means whereby after the. clamps have been` engaged the gear member may be further forcibly rotated soy as to cause the springs to more closely bind the clamps against the plate.

7. In combination with a plate cylinder having a series of clamp guiding recesses adjacent one end, a collar at the outer ends of the recesses, screws having their inner ends journaled in the recesses and their outer ends in said collar, pinions on said screws, an annulus rotatably mounted on the cylinder shaft adjacent the collar, a ring mounted on the cylinder shaft, said annulus having gear teeth meshing with said pinions, and other gear teeth adjacent the ring, and a pinion on said ring meshing with the latter teeth, and whereby the annulus may be turned.

8. In combination with devices set forth in claim 7, Vnuts on the screws and springs interposed between the collar and nuts adapted to be com.- pressed by excess rotation of the screws after the clamps have been engaged with the plate.

9. In combination with a plate cylinder having recesses for accommodation of plate clamps, screws extending into said recesses, plate clamps threaded on said screws and adapted to be moved thereby into or out of the recesses, pinions on the outer ends of the screws; a gear member rotatably mounted on the cylinder shaft and having annular gear teeth engaging the pinions for si- ,multaneously rotating the screws, nutson the by excess rotation of the screws after the clamps have been engaged with the plate, and means whereby after the clamps have been engaged the gear member may be further forcibly rotated so as to cause the springs to more closely bind the clamp against the plate, said means including a third set of gear teeth on said member adapted to be engaged by a removable manually operable worm.

10. In combination with a plate cylinder having a series of clamp guiding slots adjacent one end, recesses at the outer ends of the slots, a collar at the outer ends of the recesses; longitudinally movable screws having their inner ends journaled in the recesses and their outer ends in said collar, pinions on said screws, an annulus rotatably mounted on the cylinder shaft adjacent the collar, a ring exterior to the annulus ixedly mounted on the cylinder shaft, said annulus having one Yseries of gear teeth meshing with said pinion, a

second set of gear teeth adjacent the ring, and a third set of gear teeth on its outer edge, a pinion mounted on the ring and meshing with the gear teeth on the edge of the annulus, whereby the annulus may be turned, and an eye bolt mounted on the ring, and adapted to hold a manually operable Worm wrench in engagement with the second set of teeth on said annulus.

11. In combination with devices as set forth in claim 10, nuts on the screws, and springs interposed between the collar and the nuts and adapted to be compressed by excess rotation of the screws after the clamps have been engaged with the plate.

EDMUND W. DEAN. JAMES L. BLACKLEY. 

